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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has expressed embarrassment over the surfacing of a bizarre video that shows him ranting and swearing, the latest surprising event to involve the chief magistrate during a week in which he also admitted to having smoked crack cocaine.

the fifth estate: The Rob Ford Story

Tonight on the fifth estate, Gillian Findlay has more on the man who has become the world's most controversial mayor – and the real story behind the notorious video. "The Rob Ford Story" airs tonight at 9 p.m., 9:30 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Both the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun published videos on their respective websites on Thursday, which appeared to have overlapping portions of an unexplained occasion in which the mayor was recorded.

The context of the video and the target of Ford's rants are unknown.

At one point during the video, Ford can be heard talking about wanting "to kill" someone.

Mayor under scrutiny for months

When Ford admitted to having smoked crack cocaine on Tuesday, he told reporters he had "nothing left to hide."

Ford had been under intense scrutiny for months after reports emerged that someone had been shopping a video — not related to the one posted Thursday — that appeared to show the mayor smoking a crack pipe.

The mayor long denied the alleged crack video’s existence, though police recently said they had obtained a video file that was consistent with what the media had reported. Ford has since called for that video to be released.

Coun. John Parker said the video was just the latest in a series of distractions for the mayor.

"It’s just one story after another, but the pattern is well-established," Parker said Thursday.

But he said that the work at city hall continues no matter what is going on with the mayor.

Coun. John Filion said that Ford needs to step aside and return to work, if and when he is able to deal with his personal issues.

One of the mayor's most ardent supporters, Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti, also urged Ford in a statement to go to rehab.

"I have grown more concerned and fear for his health now more than ever," Mammoliti said.

"If it is in their power, the mayor's family needs to intervene and attempt to get him to a drug rehabilitation centre."

But the councillor said that he believes the mayor will resist efforts to try to pressure him into doing so.

"The more that people line up to try to push him to do that, the more counterproductive it is and the less likely it is to happen," he told CBC News Network in a telephone interview.

"Rob Ford is not somebody who would allow himself to be shoved aside, it just goes against his core."

Family members defend mayor

Ford's mother and sister came out in defence of the mayor on Thursday in an interview with a local Toronto television station.

The mayor's mother, Diane, said her son's conduct was clearly out of line.

'Robbie is not a drug addict. I know because I'm a former addict.'-— Kathy Ford, Toronto mayor Rob Ford's older sister

"It's not acceptable behaviour. He is the mayor of the city, and he knows that better than anyone," she told CP24.

"But to err is human; to forgive is divine. And we all err, but here there is no forgiveness [from the media]."

Ford's older sister, Kathy, said she did not believe her brother was addicted to drugs or alcohol.

"Robbie is not a drug addict. I know because I'm a former addict," she said, adding that she believes her brother rarely drinks — but overindulges when he does.

As for how Ford could move forward, Diane said she had outlined a five-step plan to get her son on the road to recovery.

Ford matriarch's 5-step recovery plan

"Get yourself a driver. Then after that, you do something about your weight," she said, adding that "an alcohol detector" in the car could be another potential solution.

"That will prove you can't drive the car if you're drinking," she reasoned.

Diane Ford went on to say she had spoken to her son about surrounding himself with different company.

"And yes — see a counsellor," she added. "Do get help. For anything. So you can go to a psychologist and just get help, and they will help you through any problem that you've got."

Ford, a 44-year-old father of two young children, has served as the mayor of Toronto for the past three years. He has constantly made headlines during his tenure both for his work at city hall and his life outside of it.